Very fortunate! I had one at the entrance to my veranda last year which tried hard to spit at me but for some reason did not. Its mouth was working hard and it hooded up and struck when I moved. I retreated inside the house and rang our rangers who came and dealt with it.

Smiling is contagious. Start an epidemic today!

Have you read the entrance permit? Do you KNOW the Conditions of Entry?

I am glad to hear that he was not bitten as these snakes can deliver a nasty bite. Fortunately, eye envenomation very seldom result in serious problems, as long as you rinse the eyes with large quantities of water or any other blunt liquid as soon as possible there after. It is known that in cases where no fluids are immediately available, urine can also be used to rinse the eyes (as a last resort).

Well, just a word of warning. If you get out of your car in the KNP where you are allowed to eg. Nkumbe lookout point, and you hear the grass rustle, do not just assume that it is a francolin or so. On Wednesday 21 May 2008, I stopped at the before mentioned lookout point to try and spot some rhinos. Well I was alone and heard the grass rustling, but thought nothing much of it. After the 2nd or 3rd time, I turned around just in time to see a Mozambique Spitting Cobra (±80 - 100cm) come slithering down from between the rocks.

I stood still (had no face or foot protection) and watched moved along, tongue flickering. I then decided to go and fetch the camera. Well, when I got back the snake was gone.?

Looked CAREFULLY and then spotted it again. Took some photos, but none are actually worhtwile posting, especially after the nice pics we have already seen. But will try anyway later on.

So be careful. You are getting out of your car at your own risk!! But lastly, I must admit, a sighting I will never forget!!

Mfezi wrote: Fortunately, eye envenomation very seldom result in serious problems, as long as you rinse the eyes with large quantities of water or any other blunt liquid as soon as possible there after.

I've got to agree with Mfezi on this one. My mom was spat in the face by a Moz Spitting Cobra, several years ago when she was in the bath. (It came up through the loo).

The doc said the immediate total immersion back in the bath probably saved her sight.

Having caught many Mozambique Cobra's and seen a fair amount of Mambas you tend to notice things easier.........The shape of the head(Black mamba has a more elongated head, looking somewhat like a coffin), the scale pattern as well as colouration (Black mamba is far more grey, and has less of a speckled appearance). The body shape(The mamba is far longer, the cobra is shorter and fatter, the mamba would be (just an eg) 2 metres before it would be the width of a much shorter Cobra)...The orange colouration on the head of your snake also matches the Mozambique Cobra, as well as the bands beneath the upper throat/neck, and the facial patterns..........if you have a look at the photos on this thread, you will notice you're snake looks quite different from the mamba!

A Black Mamba is actually not black….they get their name from the black colour of the inside of their mouths.Having said this, and from my personal experience as a complete amateur that unfortunately seem to attract snakes, I find it very difficult to make a quick ID of a snake on its colour or even the appearance of its scales….

Unfortunately a Black Mamba will seldom “pose” for a photo like a Moz Cobra…still think the Moz Cobras are a bit dumb …..and I do not think there are many people who have been able to get close-up photos of BM’s in the wild….if I remember correctly, Nico and Yvonne got some great close-up shots of a BM?

shangri-la wrote:He was on the tar road when we see him/her we had the car window open, as we lend out to take our photos, if we had known it was a spitting Cobra I think we may well have tried to take the photos with the window shut

If only we new

I have spoken to quite few people who got that spit into their eyes…it burns like battery acid! A Black Mamba would not have stuck around for you to get a photo….unless you had a nice thatch roof on top of your car ….but then your last worries would have been to get a photo!!!

We went Kloofing in a gorge near Brits on the weekend and found this snake stuck in one of the pools. The walls where to slippery and straight for it to get out. Believe it may have fallen in from the top. I caught it and took it to higher ground! Not sure what it is but am tipping snouted Cobra here??

Can anyone confirm this? Would be great to know as I am still getting to the different types of snake species!

Ja I checked in my snake Book yesterday and came to the same conclusion. Luckly the snake was stuck in cold water for a while and very sluggish. I had safety glasses with me but they kept fogging up so I moved her without the glasses!

I know it sounds stupid but I noticed the snake had been stuck there for a while and didn't even give a threat display whilst begin handled.